Two More for Messi in Straightforward Win

March 12, 2012

FC Barcelona cruised to a 2–0 victory against Racing Santander at the Sardinero on Sunday evening. They asserted a control that lasted from the first minute to the last, and restricted the home team to the briefest glimpses of goal. Messi scored twice, and was unfortunate not to add more as Mario Fernández was in good form in the Santander goal.

The first half was a remarkably one-sided encounter, with Racing camped in their half and unable to gain any respite from the waves of attacks and energetic pressing by Barcelona. Pedro nearly opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute, when he cut in from the left touchline and flashed a shot across the face of goal, with Mario Fernandez beaten.

The chances continued to flow for the away side – Messi saw a swerving free-kick tipped away by the goalkeeper, and then Iniesta nearly scored what would have been a fabulous goal; after a close passing move on the edge of the area the midfielder found a little space inside the box on the left. He ducked inside his defender and curled a delicate shot that had Fernández completely beaten but just grazed the top of the crossbar.

Fernández was called into action again minutes later, when Cesc turned smartly in the area and aimed a short at the near post from the right.

The pressure continued to mount, and a Barça goal seemed inevitable. And the breakthrough did arrive after half an hour. Xavi brought the ball through a tangle of Racing players and knocked it wide for Cesc, whose low, hard cross was turned in edge of the six-yard box by none other than Lionel Messi.

The second half got off to a subdued start, although Barcelona were still in full control. About ten minutes in they sprung to life again. Cuenca was put through, and after his shot was saved from close range by Fernández Racing struggled to clear the ball. Cesc picked it up on the edge of the area and tried to drive down the right channel but was impeded by the arms of Cisma, conceding a penalty to Barcelona. Messi was the man to step up, and clinically tucked his spot-kick in the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.

Barcelona produced some sparkling football during the spell that followed the second goal, and might have added two or three goals to the scoreline. Firstly Isaac Cuenca spun in the area and unleashed an effort that crashed off the near post and out for a goal kick.

Later a flowing move involving Iniesta, Xavi and Messi saw the ball land at the Argentine’s feet on the D. His powerful effort was blocked by the increasingly overworked Fernández. Messi then had a clear opportunity to seal his hat-trick when he raced through one-on-one against Fernández, but the ‘keeper was sharp once more to save both the initial effort and the follow up.